The One Label I Forgot To Read

[TooManyHats]

Just checked the label on my Omega-3 fish oil. It's got soy in it. I can't believe it! Here I thought I was being pretty vigilant when all along I've been getting a daily dose of soy.

What brands have you all been using? I have found one at my local vitamin shoppe, but I figured I checked with all of you.

[Joefnh]

That's ok Arlene my GI doctor prescribed me 5000IU vitamin D capsules this past September. After the first capsule I noticed that I was starting to flare again. It took a week to figure out that the filler for the gel cap was soy.

What I found interesting is that this was a prescription medication that had a known allergen in it and was not labeled. I had to call Teva pharmaceuticals to figure this one out. Even the pharmacist could not believe they would do that until I gave him a printout of the email from Teva

Unfortunately we do occasionally run into these landmines.

--Joe

[tex]

What I found interesting is that this was a prescription medication that had a known allergen in it and was not labeled.

As you probably know, pharmaceuticals are exempt from the food labeling requirements, (including the allergen laws). By law, all that pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to list on the label, is the active ingredient, and the amount. Most of them do list most of the inert ingredients, these days, but that's strictly voluntary - they are not required by the FDA to do so.

We can thank our brilliant legislators for that mistake. Unless Congress mandates a specific labeling requirement, the FDA doesn't seem to give a hoot.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

my slightly cynical thought on this

nothing will change until a person with some level of power re these issues is directly impacted (ie themselves or close family member having an issue with an ingredient)

here in Oz the information is readily available and the pharmaceutical system used by Pharmacists is quite good, my profile with the pharmacy has allergins listed and if they go to issue a med to me with Gluten or Lactose in it, it will alert the pharmacist.

i dont think Soy is listed as an allergin in the case of medications...

seeing how many GF products are now SF as well, i wonder how long it will be before the powers that be link that to medications.....

another reason why we have to be super dooper detectives!

[Mags]

I get mine from a website called [url]genuinehealth.com[/url]. They contain no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives and are corn, dairy, egg, wheat, gluten, soy, and yeast free. They have several formulations, but I like the one called o3mega+joy. It's made from wild fish like sardines and anchovies, so it doesn't have heavy metals, dioxins, or PCB's.

I also get my supplement shakes from here, as they are also everything free.

Hope this helps,

Mags

[hoosier1]

Arlene,

I made the same mistake a couple months ago. Seems like I have difficulty reading or finding the word "soy" in ingredient lists.

But, I'm getting better at it.

Rich

[TooManyHats]

I ordered my vitamins from Freeda Vitamins tonight. I haven't take any vitamins in 2 days. I hope they get here soon.

But after reading Tex's explanation of that enteric coating in another post, I would venture to guess that I probably don't get much from the Centrum vitamins I was taking. As for the Omega-3? Right now, I'm not sure my system is missing that soy-filled capsule right now. I ordered the multivitamins, multi-minerals, probiotic, and vit D. I didn't see Omega-3 on that site. I think I found something soy-free at the vitamin shoppe, but I'll check it again before I buy it.

This place is the best! SO much information here!

[ant]

I try and get my minerals and vitamins from London's Hale Clinic. It has very knowledgeable people there. The young person who helped me choose the products was doing a PHD thesis into causes and treatments for Multiple Sclerosis.

http://www.haleclinic.com/

Best, Ant